This letter is written in response to the March 6 article “Youth is served in Staten Island alcohol sting.” This article and others like it illustrate why youth need to understand now, more than ever, the risks behind alcohol use.

Every year, 5,000 young people die as a result of underage drinking. Adolescent drinkers tend to perform worse in school and are at increased risk for social problems, depression, suicidal thoughts and violence. Drinking today carries risks that were less prevalent in years past. Combined with prescription drugs, alcohol puts teens at risk for dangers such violence and sexual assault.

Yet, alcohol is normalized everywhere we look in our culture, society and media. Studies show that kids see more than 100,000 ads for alcohol by the time they reach eighth grade, and kids who start drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop a problem than those who start at 21.

A recent survey showed that only 36 percent of Staten Island caregivers and parents report having alcohol in a locked or secure place at home. But those closest to children need to guide them in the right direction and hold them accountable. It’s important for caregivers to have difficult conversations with their kids about alcohol and substance abuse and then model those actions themselves.

Love your children enough to interfere in their lives; it may just save their life.